Le centre de traitement Ebola de MSF a ouvert ses portes sur le site de Munigi, à Goma. Les premiers patients ont été admis le jeudi 28 mai. Les équipes de MSF suivent un protocole strict de préparation et de désinfection avant et après chaque visite auprès des patients.

Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a severe Ebola disease outbreak is currently spreading. This outbreak is a public health emergency of an alarming scale. It is particularly serious due to the virus involved, the very limited number of medical resources available to combat it, and the extremely challenging context in which it is spreading.

Last updated: June 3, 2026

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officially declared an Ebola disease outbreak on 15 May in Ituri province, in the country’s northeast. On 17 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern. The next day, the Africa CDC declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). 

Unlike most previous Ebola disease outbreaks that occurred in the DRC, this one is caused by Bundibugyo virus. "Ebola disease" is a disease caused by any virus from the Orthoebolavirus family. The most known viruses within this are Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and the Bundibugyo virus.

In the two previous known outbreaks of Bundibugyo virus disease, the case fatality rate was lower than outbreaks caused by the more common and deadly Ebola virus (between 25 to 40%). Yet, responding to this virus is particularly challenging because are currently no approved vaccines or treatments available, unlike for the more common Ebola virus. At this stage, diagnostic for this virus requires complex testing methods run in laboratories with stringent biosafety. At this stage, the number of Bundibugyuo-specific test kids remains extremely limited. While research and development are ongoing, rapid decentralized testing will take time and efforts to establish.

The outbreak was first identified following alerts of an unusual increase in deaths linked to a suspected viral haemorrhagic fever in Mongwalu health zone, northwest of Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), MSF assessments conducted in affected areas found dozens of deaths had occurred since April, with suspected and confirmed cases also reported in Bunia and Rwampara health zones. Over the next few days, the outbreak spread far further in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, and most recently (21 May) South Kivu.

Several neighbouring countries have introduced travel restrictions in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. Rwanda has put in place measures affecting transit through its territory. Since the closure of Goma airport, access to parts of eastern DRC has often relied on flights into Kigali followed by overland travel. Uganda has also introduced restrictions affecting the movement of people coming from the DRC, which is main transit to enter the Ituri province. Some airlines such as KLM, and Air France has also stopped flying to affected and neighbouring countries.

While humanitarian and medical personnel, as well as essential medical supplies, are generally exempt from these measures, these restrictions have created additional logistical challenges. They make it more difficult, costly and time-consuming to move emergency teams and essential supplies into areas affected by the outbreak. This is particularly challenging in eastern DRC, where humanitarian access was already constrained by insecurity, poor infrastructure, and the remoteness of many communities.

This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak in DRC. This is the third detected outbreak involving the Bundibugyo virus, following outbreaks in Uganda in 2007-2008 and in DRC in 2012. The Bundibugyo virus was first identified in 2007 in Bundibugyo district in western Uganda, during which 131 cases were reported with 42 deaths. MSF has been an active partner in many Ebola responses, including the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. We also have experience with Ebola caused by Bundibugyo virus, having responded to outbreaks in 2007 and 2012.

Some figures:

Democratic Republic of the Congo:

At the end of May, nearly 1,000 suspected cases had been reported as well as more than 200 suspected deaths, and over 300 confirmed cases, and nearly 60 confirmed deaths, according to the DRC National Institute for Public Health (IRNB).

However, following increased capacity in testing at the end of May, DRC Ministry of Health updated their total suspect case count to remove suspected cases that had been ruled out after investigation, as well suspected deaths that were pending the results of ongoing investigation. Therefore, as of the 4^th of June, the official from INRB toll was 381 confirmed cases, 64 confirmed deaths, and 233 suspected patients in isolation. You can refer to the following for updated numbers link.

Uganda:

As of the 4^th of June, 16 cases were reported and one death.

MSF's Response

Hundreds of MSF staff are responding to this Ebola disease outbreak.

MSF is running Ebola Treatment Centres across affected areas in Ituri and North Kivu, while additional treatment capacity is being established in South Kivu.

In the first two weeks following the declaration of the outbreak alone, MSF sent tens of thousands of items to strengthen the response capacity. Several tonnes of medical and logistical supplies continue to arrive in the DRC each week from MSF’s international logistics hubs.